Colorado House Passes Bill to Allow Temporary Marijuana Hospitality Events
- Colorado’s House passed House Bill 1117, allowing licensed marijuana hospitality businesses to host temporary events for legal adult marijuana consumption, now under Senate Finance Committee review.
- The bill permits only licensed marijuana hospitality and sales businesses to apply for event permits, which are regulated locally and require jurisdictions to adopt ordinances allowing such events.
- Temporary events are limited to 72 hours, capped at 15 events per permit holder annually, prohibit marijuana sales or distribution on-site, and cannot be held at alcohol, tobacco, or regulated marijuana-licensed locations.
- Events must be restricted to adults 21+, have controlled access, comply with health and safety rules, post educational material on THC impairment, and marijuana consumption would not be considered public consumption under state law if the bill passes.
Colorado’s House of Representatives voted 33 to 31 yesterday to pass legislation that would allow licensed marijuana hospitality businesses to host temporary events where adults could legally consume marijuana.
House Bill 1117, sponsored by Representative Naquetta Ricks (D), has now been assigned to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration. If approved by the Senate and signed into law, the measure would allow local governments to create a framework for temporary marijuana hospitality event permits.
Under the bill, only licensed marijuana hospitality businesses and marijuana hospitality and sales businesses would be eligible to apply for the permits. Local licensing authorities could issue and regulate the permits, but only in jurisdictions that first adopt an ordinance or resolution allowing such events.
Applications would need to be submitted at least 60 days before the proposed event, and each event would require a separate permit. The bill would limit temporary marijuana hospitality events to 72 hours and cap each permit holder at 15 events per calendar year.
The legislation would not allow marijuana to be sold, transferred or distributed at the temporary events. It would also prohibit events at locations licensed or allowed to sell or serve alcohol or tobacco, as well as premises licensed to sell or serve regulated marijuana.
To qualify, an event would need to be limited to adults 21 and older, with marijuana consumption areas kept out of public view. Access would need to be controlled through security personnel or credentialed entry, and events would need to comply with state and local rules related to noise, odor, air quality and ventilation.
The bill would also require educational materials to be posted at each entrance, including information on the penalties and dangers of driving while impaired by or under the influence of THC.
If enacted, marijuana consumption at a properly licensed temporary event would not be considered open and public consumption under state law.